Lions of Timbavati

[Timbavati]

The Nharhu male lions.
The next morning I had planned on doing a third day at the dam, but as the three Nharhu male lions and a couple of River Pride lionesses had made a kill in camp the night before (outside Foreman’s house), I thought I should have a look for them. My search proved successful and I found two of the Nharhu males with all four River Pride lionesses. The cubs were also present, and it was the first time in over two weeks that I had seen them, but perhaps the reason for their scarcity of late was evidenced by the fact that only four cubs were present. Two of the older cubs were not with the pride, and it would be very unusual for only two of them to be left behind somewhere. I hate making predictions about situations that I don’t know enough about, but sadly I do fear that their absence may be permanent.

The Mbiri males were reported wandering around in the northern Timbavati,and could be heard calling to the east this week – perhaps they made a turn through the area with dire consequences? Hyenas, leopards, injuries; all are potential answers to their absence, but only time will tell if it is permanent or not. This was not the first time we had seen the pride this week, and earlier in the week, all seven adults were found together and on the hunt in the southern part of their territory. It was the next day that I found the fat-bellied males drinking at the dam and it seemed as though they may still have had a kill in that area based on the fact that after their drink, they returned in the direction from which they came. Sadly, I couldn’t find them again, so it is not known if the whole pride was present at the kill, or just the males. Regardless of the fate of the cubs, it is good to know that the pride is hunting well and are once more active in the central part of their territory.


Credit: Chad Cocking

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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